Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 03.djvu/858

* BYZANTINE EMPIRE. 756 BYZANTINE EMPIBE. BYZANTINE EMPIRE, also styled the East Euiium, Kasteni, Greek, or Later Roman Empire; but a better name is 'the Empire of Xew Rome.' On the death of Theodosius (q.v.), in 395, the Roman Empire was divided between his two sons, Areadius, who had the eastern half, with his capital at Constantinople, and Honorius, who had tlie western half. This event is gener- ally taken for the beginning of the so-called Byzantine Empire, which took its name from Byzantium (q.v.), the ancient name for its capi- tal. It came to an end in 1453, when Constanti- nople was capti'ircd by the Turks. Areadius (395-408) was weak and wholly un- der the domination of his successive ministers, Rufinus, Eutropius, and Gainas, of whom the first and the last were Genuans; Gainas, who had murdered Rufinus, was succeeded in power by the Empress Eudoxia. Only after her death, in 404, ■was Areadius at all independent. He was succeeded by his son Theodosius II., a boy of 7, who ruled from 408 to 450. During his whole reign the government was ably carried on by his sister Pulcheria, who was noted for her rigid virtue. During his reign the Huns under Attila exacted repeated contributions of money and gifts. Attila's demands ceased as soon as they met with a firm refusal from Mar- cianus (450-457). whom Pulcheria married after the death of Theodosius. Leo the Thracian ( 457- 474) was elevated to the throne by the German general Aspar, who was all-powerful imtil he was murdered by the Emperor in 471. Zeno ( 474-491 ), son-in-law of Leo, succeeded, although the latter's son Leo II., a boy of 4, was at first proclaimed Emperor. After the death of Zeno his widow married Anastasius I. (491-518), who obtained the Empire through her favor. Justin (518-527) was an Illyrian peasant, of Slav de- scent: as a soldier of fortune he had risen rap- idly. He put an end to the religious troubles which had existed under his predecessors. Leo, Zeno, Anastasius, and Justin were all men of experience, who pursued a cautious policy, re- cruited an army of natives, and made adminis- trative and financial refonus, and left the treas- ury full, the army strong, and the Empire intact. But for their labors, the reign of Justinian the Great (527-5(35) would have been impossible. By his conquests and able administration he raised the Empire to a higher degree of prosper- it.v and power than it was ever again to experi- ence. 'His entire policy was directed toward unity, and this formed the keynote for the future history of the Byzantine Empire. He sought to bring all under one State, one Church, and one law. The Roman law was compiled and pub- lished under his auspices in the form of a monu- mental code. After his death the Empire declined rapidly. His great enterprises had exhausted the treasury and necessitated heavy taxation. His successor, Justin II. (505-578), without his abil- ity, aspired to greater glory. The Persian War, which he provoked needlessly, drained the re- sources of the Empii-e, taxation became a cnish- ing burden, the Avars and Slavs devastated the northern border, the Lombards overran most of Italy. Inefficient or unfortunate rulers suc- ceeded, Tiberius Constantius (578-582), Mau- rice (582-602), and Phocas (602-610)— until, after the death of the last, Heraclius became Em- peror (610-641). He humbled Persia, which had been the great opponent of Byzantium, and by 628 he had restored the Empire to its old su- premacy in the East and was hailed as 'the new Scipio.' But the provinces of the Empire were ex- hausted by the long wars and had .suffered from the hostile occupation. Consequently, when the Arabs began their great missionarj- conquests the emperors were too ^^eak to oppose tliem success- fullj' and were forced to see one after another of their provinces wrested from their grasp. The house of Heraclius furnished two other able emperors — Constans II. (641-668) and his son, Constantine ( 668-685 ), who fought bravely against the Mussulmans and checked their ad- vance. But the reign of Justinian II. (685-695 and 705-711) was disastrous, and after his death anarchy brought the Empire to the verge of ruin. The rebel, Leo the Isaurian (717-741), saved the State. He defended Constantinople during the long siege by the Saracens, and reorganized the Empire, which, in spite of the efforts and ability of Heraclius and his grandson and great-grand- son, had been steadil}' decaying. Leo's descend- ants are remembered chiefiy for their efforts to restrict the worship of images. (See IcoNO- CL.iSM.) But this is not just, as the Empire gained in strength and prosperity under the Isaurian dynasty. Constantine Copronymus (741-775) was a great warrior and extended the boundaries of the Empire both in Asia and Europe. He reformed the administration, plant- ed colonies along the frontiers, and encouraged commerce. His son, Leo IV. (775-780), was able, but he was succeeded by his son, Constantine ( 780-797 ), a boy of 9. The latter was under the guardianship of his mother, Irene, imtil he was 21. Then the two reigned conjointly imtil 797, when Irene had her son blinded and deposed. Her five years of rule (797-802) were very disastrous to the Empire. Nieephorus I. (802-811) was compelled to pay tribute to the Caliph Harun- al-Rashid in order to make peace with him. and was slain by the Bulgarians. After two .vears of disaster, Leo the Armenian (813-820) defeated the Bulgarians and began a prosperous reign, only to be murdered by conspirators. Under Michael the Amorian (820-829) the Saracens conquered Crete and began the subjugation of Sicily. His son, Theophilus (829-842), was en- gaged in almost constant warfare, bloody hut indecisive, with the Caliphs. His reign, however, was pros]ierous at home, and be was renowned for his justice and the great buildings which he constructed. The Empire in his time was wealthy, and Constantinople was the centre of Euro2)ean trade. His son. Michael III. (842- 867 ), was only 4 years old when he became Em- peror. He grew up a drunkard, and no one at- tempted to revenge his death when Basil the Macedonian (807-886), whom he had made co- Emperor, caused him to be murdered. Under the emperors of the Macedonian line the government was strengthened by the regular transmission of the imperial power. In fact, the whole period from 717 to 1057 was a time when the Empire was on the whole prosperous, well administered, and triumphant. Basil was suc- cessful in all his wars, except in Sicily, where Sj'racuse was captured by the Saracens in 878. He had great ability; his code of laws remained in use for centuries. His son, Leo the 'ise (886-912), and his grandson, Constantine Por- phyrogenitus (912-959), were literary men of no mean ability. Fortunately, the Empire was pros-